PokerStars Live Events
Mood:  lazy
A couple weeks ago we discussed the benefits of getting PokerStars rakeback when you play online. This time I intend to describe some recent and upcoming live tournaments sponsored by PokerStars. PokerStars sponsors a huge number of live poker events around the world every year, and there are always online satellites for those that cannot afford to buy-in directly.  

European Poker Tour London just finished up. If you are a member of PokerStars Elite, you could have chosen to participate in the Main Event for part of your PokerStars rakeback benefits. Everything was scheduled between September 29th and October 4th, and the series was a great success. The Main Event featured a £5,250 buy-in, and 848 runners meant a prize pool of £4,112,800. To be a PokerStars player in one of these events, you must satellite in using your PokerStars download or you must be sponsored by the site. The most successful PokerStars player in the field ended up being Arturn Wasek; he finished in 4th place for £240,000.

Many people support the PokerStars marketing code because of the site’s charity work. At the end of the series in London, a charity event took place between October 2nd and October 4th. It was a £100+10+10 buy-in, with the extra £10 going to Cancer Research UK. It was a re-entry event with a guaranteed prize pool of £100,000. For those that couldn’t make the event but still wanted to donate, they could do so in the download free poker client itself. Any amount of money could be transferred to the username “CancerUK”.

If you intend on playing in the Belgian Open Poker Championship, the series lasts until the 17th of this month. The Main Event Day 1 is split into 4 days, and then there are a variety of smaller tournaments taking place at the same time. There are six total events scheduled. Ladies sick of money poker sites can play a special Ladies only freezeout with a for €110 on October 17th.

If you are American and play on US poker sites, you can go to Atlantic City for the United States Poker Championship. The Main Event is $5,250, and if cannot afford it, you could try your luck at online qualifiers. Or you can play one of several smaller events between $300 and $600. If you want to play the Ladies Event, the buy-in is $265+$35.

These days people are into downloading poker clients or even playing free poker no downloads, but the live poker scene is still as popular as it ever was. If you want to become known in the poker community, your best bet might be to win a large scale brick-and-mortar event. The next time you get the gambling itch, head to your local casino to see when the next big poker series is coming to your town.